Authoress here.

I really should be going to sleep. It's four 'o' clock in the morning and here I am, stubbornly sitting at my computer screen, the curser blinking at me in a very superior way. I think Avi is feeling smug.

I must apologize for the wait! Writer's block has found me; I'm still not sure it has shaken itself from me yet. All I know is I found myself booting up (Virtual Systems Ready!) and now I plunge headfirst into another chapter of the Yujo Chronicles.

It's becoming trying to continue this. After five good stories, I'm starting to curse ever beginning this one. It's becoming too much of a good thing for me. But I have a writer's code- if I start it and let people read it, I finish it.

Yujo Chronicles: The Final Chapter
Chapter Fifteen: Breaking In

Somewhere in Demon World

"Holy hell."

Ran hadn't meant to voice his thoughts aloud, but the sheer magnitude of the crudely constructed building before the small rescue group was staggering. Brick upon brick of hardened mud and shale made up the exterior, but both Ran and Emiko had voiced their opinion that the poor construction was merely a front for the advanced technology inside of the colossal structure.

It was as large as any stadium, with inconspicuous wires and electricity poles rising off into the pale morning sky. The doorway was tall and wide enough for a truck or a large demon carrying in supplies, and there were no windows.

"I s'pose that's our entrance?" Narrin eyed the door critically. "Rather obvious."

Katsu's palms went sweaty and she gripped her golf club, wisely keeping her hand away from the explosive purse she had slung carefully over her shoulder. This was where those…demons…had Yusuke…

"Let's go."

Emiko held out a hand to stop her overeager friend. "Wait, Katsu. We need some sort of plan before we barge in. We don't know how many demons are in there; we could be sorely outnumbered or ambushed."

"So let's-" Ran broke off midsentance as a gust of wind brought a cloud of unsettled dirt swirling around them in miniscule tornadoes. Accompanying the wind was a low rumble, like some sort of vehicle.

"Hide!" Emiko hissed. The small pack dived for a shallow ditch beside the main entrance and huddled against the ground, hoping the deep shadows cast by the not-yet-risen sun would hide them.

The rumbling increased to a dull roar, and then sudden silence as the vehicle stopped directly above them. Katsu risked a glance up and had to fight down a cry of surprise.

A colossal insect, clearly demonic, was standing at the entrance, many legs twitching involuntarily as the thing made low, wheezing gasps. Secured to its back was a small box-looking thing, and the side of it swung out to reveal six very inhuman appearing demons. There was one who was tied, immobile, and tossed unceremoniously onto the ground about the insect-vehicle's many large feet.

"Careful, Tsuki." A voice grunted, raspy and low. "Our benefactor's fragile critter. I don' wan' him…uncomfortable."

"Sure ting, Boss." A higher pitched voice answered gleefully. "If'n he'd stop 'is wrigglin' and squirmin'-"

"Enough." The first voice interrupted. "We gotta get inside and sees our purchase. For nine million, I'm 'opin' to enjoy meself. Personally, I can' wait to crush Urameshi's head betwixt me claws…"

There was widespread laughter at this, and a few raucous shouts of other demons, claiming various body parts of the captives to maim. Katsu shuddered, and felt Emiko next to her trembling with a badly suppressed rage.

The laughter and morbid shouts were drowned out as the demonic bug started to wheeze again as it trudged inside, its many legs kicking up more dervishes of dust. The doors had scraped open of their own accord, and the demons were wasting no time in entering.

Ran motioned to the other three in the ditch, and simultaneously they all scrambled silently up the slope to slink inside behind the oblivious youkai.

Once in, following the noisy demons at a safe distance wasn't hard to do. Ran led the small group, followed by Narrin and Katsu, Emiko bringing up the rear. Every now and then she dropped a seed to the floor, marking their passage in case of a need for a quick getaway. The plants burst into bloom as they touched ground, their roots cracking the concrete flooring as they delved for soil.

Ran and Emiko's prediction was correct. The inside of the building was sterile and advanced; the white walls, floor and ceiling was only interrupted by stainless steel gadgets set into the walls. The doors were steels as well, giving the four the impression of some sort of prisoner containment facility in Human World.

After a steady trek some fifteen minutes through the halls, the loud rumbling wheezes of the bug had grown quieter. The demons must have gone on without it. This was quickly found to be true as its mighty body appeared around one bend. It sat in stupid obedience, antennae twitching irregularly, its many eyes dull.

"Should we kill it?" Narrin whispered to Ran.

"Why?" The red head shrugged. "It's done us no harm. Unless it starts raising the alarm there's no need."

They were cautious all the same going by it and through the smaller doors. The dull beast did little more than quirk an antennae at them as they passed; otherwise it seemed wholly unaware of their presence.

The four crept slowly now, eyes and ears sharp, straining for danger. They passed down a simple hallway and through large double doors.

"It's just another hallway." Katsu whispered. Indeed, past the doors was only another long white corridor that curved away in a gentle bend. But there was a sense of foreboding in this one that sent warning signals to the four rescuers.

"-I think you gentlemen will be pleased when we bring them out-"

At the sound of a voice the four drew to the wall, hugging to it and standing still. Katsu found herself holding her breath as she strained to hear.

"Well, watchya waiten' fer?"

"Do you take us as fools?" A colder, more intelligent voice bit out coldly. "You will not see the items until I feel the weight of nine million resting in my hand."

"Smart 'un, I'll grantchya that." The demon buyer had adopted an oily tone now. "'Ere's the one who, er, donated to our cause."

There was a whimper that sounded as if the bound demon had been roughly pushed forewords. "This 'ere is Yuushiku Jii, a rather successful entrepanuer type. Made some 'andy connections wif some 'Uman World folks concernin' d'Dark Tournament."

"Impressive." The intelligent voice was still cold, and now starting to sound dangerous. "Don't be offended when I express my lack of interest. Where is my money?"

"Don' be getting' uppity wif me." The other demon retorted. "I've got four strong at me back; you've got naught but two lightweights who look no stronger den 'umans."

"Ignorant self-assuredness is not a successful trait." The cool voice sounded unaffected by the other's threat. "My money?"

"'Ere." The buyer sounded irked now, unable to make a comeback. "Jii, d'guy's money."

There was another whimper, followed by shuffling and a greedy intake of breath.

"Ahh….yes." The sounds of paper sliding across paper reached the rescuers' ears as the owner of the cool voice counted the money. "Wait just a moment. Tei here will get you all something to drink, if you wish. Tsurukai and I shall prepare the-"

At that exact moment, Kiamo chose to come over the walkie talkie. "Katsu? Katsu? Where are you?"

"Shit-!" Katsu fumbled with the volume, but to no avail. Footsteps sounded as the demons quickly came towards their hiding spot.

As an ugly pair of youkai rounded the corner, Emiko launched herself into the air. Twin whips formed and started whirling, leaving a smattering of demon blood on the pristine walls. Yelling a wordless war cry, she kept running at breakneck speed down the corridor.

"Come on!" Narrin leapt to her feet and followed the vixen, Ran and Katsu at her heels.

They ran into a battle scene, Emiko standing her ground and fighting off one of the prospective buyers and Tei. The female demon was giving Emiko the most trouble; Tei's flexible and stretching form made her a hard target to hit.

"KATSU! THE TULIPS!" Emiko bellowed, not turning to look as Katsu and the other two skidded to a halt.

Katsu dipped her hand into the purse, drawing out two pulsating tulip blossoms. She lobbed them towards Emiko, trusting the vixen to move out of harm's way. She did, throwing herself backwards at the last moment, but not enough to miss the blast as the blossoms exploded.

Narrin sprinted forewords past Emiko and the two fallen demons after the fleeing others. Ran and Katsu hurried to Emiko's prone form, Ran immediately checking her pulse.

"Unconscious. What about those two?"

Katsu wrinkled her lip in disgust at the blasted remains of the demon and Tei, who hadn't gotten out of the way like Emiko had. "Good and dead."

"Good. Come on." Ran hoisted Emiko up and over one shoulder, starting after Narrin.

The thunderous waves of Narrin's power floated back to them as they ran down the corridor, and Ran grinned. "There's a few more dead demons!"

He was right. Narrin had stopped and ordered two more of the buyers to cease breathing with her powerful voice. The two unfortunates lay sprawled out on the floor.

Narrin was swaying on her feet, this act draining much of her energy. "Okay, it's up to you two." She grinned as her husband urged her to lean on Katsu's offered arm. "There are three left."

"Not a problem." Ran assured her, and he gently deposited Emiko on the floor a little away from the corpses. "You stay with her. We'll go on ahead."

"See you." Narrin's voice sounded like a plea, and Ran gave her a swift kiss before following Katsu down the hallway.

Their chase led then down the hall and into a doorway to their left. Katsu gasped in horror.

The size of the building was explained by the cavernous room. Most of it was taken up by a huge generator, the rest by machines, their wires and tubing running around the available floor space like thick tree roots.

Just as Katsu spotted four pools in the center of the floor, three more demons leapt out. Tsurukai bounded towards her, his shape-shifting power taking on the form of Yusuke.

"You fucking bastard!" Katsu screamed, winding up with her golf club. The rusted metal collided with the side of Tsurukai Yusuke's head, and the force of the blow made the demon stagger away and the golf club snap in two. Katsu pulled out another tulip and threw it with relish. "That's for the real Yusuke, you filth!"

Ran had drawn his katana and struck it home within the last buyer's abdomen. Now the only one left standing was Kahiru.

His eyes darted from Ran to the advancing Katsu, and then to the door behind them. He made a snap decision, and seized a wire on the ground, positioning one sharp claw above it, as if to rip it apart.

"Make another move and those three die!"

Katsu and Ran stopped dead, though neither face showed any worry.

"You're finished, demon." Ran spoke softly, his voice echoing around the huge room. "You're finished and you know it. All of your friends are dead, and we're just waiting to put you out of your misery."

Kahiru hissed angrily at him. "You obviously do not care for your little hypnotized friends. Without me to shut down the system, they'll die!"

"Right." It was Katsu who spoke. She was standing at a monitor, a little smile at her lips. "It has three options listed right here." Triumphantly, she read aloud, "Submerge, Inject, Release!" As she named the final word, she tapped the keyboard smugly.

The generator groaned. The lamps brightened for a second, then dulled. The whirring of many machines covered Kahiru's curse. The machines in the pools surrounding the dark shapes of Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara withdrew and lifted out of the water.

As Ran and Katsu watched, Kahiru edged slowly past Ran and darted for the door. Before Katsu could even cry out a warning to the other man, Ran had thrown his katana, which grew seemingly from Kahiru's back. The demon went down, his momentum carrying him into the ground with a thud.

End Chapter

Authoress here at Five nineteen!

One more chap and it's OVER!

Review! I'm going to sleep. (Zips away on the Broom 'o' Doom)